Moving to London as a single mother

[Coletto]

Hi Everyone

I am 26, Currently I live in Northern Ireland with my 5 year old daughter who will be going into Primary 2 come September.
I graduated last year with a degree in Fashion and as you can imagine there is not much opportunity here as all the head offices are located in London. I absolutely love London and would love to live there but just didn't think it would be possible affordable wise for me to live there with a child, however I really need to investigate this as the lack of opportunity in Northern Ireland is getting worse and I really want to make a successful career for myself and my daughter. With my experience the starting jobs on offer are ranging from 18k to 25k, obviously this is a very low salary in London, just want some information on wither I could survive on this. I?m assuming I would get some help with my rent and childcare. I would be moving to Clapham and the rent for a two bedroom is ranging from 1200 to 1400.

Can anyone give me any advice on this or share similar experience.

Thanks
Colette

what you need to do Coletto is phone the council that Clapham is in (is it Lambeth or Wandsworth?) and find out how much HB you might be entitled to on say 18k, or on benefits if this is how you are going to start off.
You would need a few grand to set up though for the deposit and month's rent in advance.
Have you thought about single parent houseshare? There was a thread on that a while back.

Why move to Clapham? There are cheaper (and nicer) places to live with a small child.

£25k would be very tight indeed. You obviously have to factor in travel costs as well as rent. Have you looked in to what benefits (tax credits, etc) that you are entitled to?

I used to have a friend who lived in a housing coop in Clapham, many years ago. Maybe they'd be able to give you a few pointers if you phone them and maybe follow up with a letter.
www.uk.coop/organisation/2411

Can your parents look after your daughter for a week or so while you go to London on a field trip and for interviews later on? Presumably you wouldn't want to make any such move until you had all the details of work, accommodation and childcare worked out and promised in writing.

Here's a website devoted to virtual fashion mogultheory.com/2013/05/how-technology-is-transforming-the-fashion-industry/

Maybe one day you can work in Ireland for a firm in Milan or Paris.

Good Luck.

Thanks burberryqueen I believe it is Lambeth, I will get in contact with them and see what is on offer. House share is definitely something I would consider, it would be good money wise but also for my daughter to be around other children.

2cats2many: My best friend is moving to Clapham so it makes sense to stay close to her as she is my only contact in London, we were both there last weekend and I liked the area. I will stay with her while I look for suitable housing, I have money to set up my issue is more about wither I will be able to survive on such a low wage.

learnandsay: Thanks Yes my daughter would stay at home with her father and my parents while I get us set up.

I guess I need to work out exactly how much housing benefit I am entitled to, working tax credit and child care element. Not sure if there is anything else I am entitled too.

I appreciate it would be nice to be near your best friend but Clapham is definitely one of the more expensive areas in London to live. Most families with an income of 25k would struggle to live there. You may well get the benefits you mention but, for example with housing benefit, this doesn't automatically plug the gap between what you earn and what you pay in rent. You may simply find you need to choose a location in London where rents are lower.

Brixton or Tooting are cheaper and very nearby.

There are some excellent primary schools in Clapham but it is an expensive area and 25k won't go far. Don't dismiss cheaper parts of south London such as Streatham, Tooting, Colliers Wood even - your money will go much further and they are within easy reach of Clapham.

Hello OP
Do let us know if you'd like us to move this thread for you
and do be sure to check out any Mumsnet Locals for where you might be moving to, won't you?
best of luck with the move